The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
The Decline OF Legal business.

vermont that ieSai DuSiheSs 10 oh Vic
decline. And retrospective view of
the past twenty-five Yeas reveals a
state of facts that fully warrant the
cutlery. A lawsuit before Justice
of the Peace is a thing of the past
and is now scarcely known. County
Court dockets have dwindled until a
half dozen trials by jury, in civil cas-
es, makes up the average term.
With this state of facts, it is not to
be wondered at that the fraternity"
stand aghast, and, looking each other
in the face, are ready to ask, how
long, ere, like Othello, our occupa
ton will be gone; in this section
(the writer speaks from personal
knowledge) twenty-five years ago Jus
tees lawsuits were a common eve
ry-day occurrence, and scarcely a
town but supported its "pettifog-
ger" Londonderry was proud of its
Arnold; Weston boosted of an
Austin, tits "Choate") Winhall was
armed with its Chauncey Wheeler
in Landgrove perched a Martin
Stratton vented it's legal lore through
its Shepherd; Windham was secure
in the legal arms of its venerable
Judge Harris; Towshend was sat-
listed with ''Dave" Howard; ia
maica was rammed, jammed and
crammed with lawyers; Judge
Stoddard of Townshend had an ex-
tensive practice, while Manchester,
Chester and other points were well
stocked.
GLOW have the mighty fallen J"
| Of all these, who in their day did
considerable legal business, although
not rising to the dignity of lawyer,
but one shepherd remains, the rest
have passed the Styx, whether pay
ing Charon's fee or cheating him out
of it, it matters not. Peace to their
memories! 1t is with no feeling of
disrespect that they are referred to.
For their day they were a necessity,
and often afforded the "boys" an eve
ning's entertainment. while the more
sedate looked upon them as occupy
ing
"a Station like the herald Mercury"
But their work is done. Their
places remain untitled. Their neces-
sity no longer exists. A new era has
dawned, thanks to the growing intel
ligence of the common people. But,
as above stated, the same depression,
though probably not quite SO marked
affects our higher courts. Why is
this? To the intelligent observer bu
two reasons will be satisfying. Th'
first is given above. The intelligence
of the people has disarmed petty
strife and taught them that cutting
off the nose to spite the face is no
, only foolish but doesn't pay; that
while they might struggle for the COW
the lawyer would be sure to do tn
v milking, and leave to them the un
profitable honors of holding tn
horns and tail. The second reason
n not so gratifying as the first, is
: feeling of utter want of respect TO
both lawyers and court that ha
grown, in few years, to be over
l. towering.
Instead of our county and suprem
- court Judges being held in reverence
a and esteem, as they should be, thou
e sands of our best citizens regard then
much in the light of bride takers
This is not to be wondered at whel
~ it is boldly alleged by citizens ant
u new papers that, with one exception
o thanks to Gov Ormsbee, every on
of them ride on Gov. Smiths fire.
pass In other words they accept ia
- vors of money value from constan
litigant in their courts. This fe ceiling
of disrespect and lack of confidenc
in our Judges debar our citizens from
J. an attempt to obtain justice. N
# sane man would think of pleading 70
> justice before Judge who was unde
q obligations to the adverse party TO
+ daily favors of absolute money value
It Hen many, with good causes, are re-
= strained from entering our courts
prefering to bear the ills they hav
rather than fly to those they kno,
not of.
:, Again, many lawyers have becom
:, petty politicians and have sunk tn
;. dignity of the profession in caucu
" packing and obedience to the man
dates of the great Mogul of monopo
70 ly and father of political nastiness i
it Vermont. The people distrust them
p and no wonder They are plOttin
and seeking for votes, day in and da
y out, and their clients cannot expet
81 honest work that would traverse til
'e making Of votes or the will of tn
master.
IN There was prize fight in Bosto
on recent night. 1t lasted fiv